No-Nette

No-Nette (aka NoNette) is a husband/wife musical duo based in Santa Cruz, California. When performing live, No-Nette is usually just Laura Partch on vocals and Scott Freshour on upright bass. The name No-Nette came from the sometimes terrifying realization that playing in public with just the bass and vocal is like performing without a net. 

Music

At last, three recordings. As is always the case, each represents untold hours invested for a matter of minutes. No longer limited to the constraints of a live-performance, Scott had a blast playing all the instruments with the exception of the accordion (thanks, Don Dias!) on “There's Frost on the Moon”. Scott created the arrangements, did all the recording, and handled the mixing along with much appreciated perspective and guidance from Jesse DeCarlo. The tracks were mastered by Pete Lyman. All Laura did was show up and sing.

 

You can listen to a preview of each song here:

Here's a link to our YouTube channel with single-picture videos of “So Far from Home” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.  (While “There's Frost on the Moon” is available everywhere else, we can't put it on YouTube.)

If you're interested in finding us on your favorite music streaming/purchase sites, searching for “No-Nette” (or one of our song titles) should find us. Or, we've included some icon links to our Artist Pages below.  

(If any of this is new to you, please be aware that if you want to proceed on most or all of these sites you will first need to create an account - free or otherwise - if you don't already have one. For example, an easy way to listen to “There's Frost on the Moon” would be to click the Spotify link to our Artist Page below and create a free account when prompted.)

If you're unfamiliar with any of the icons below, they are, from left to right, links to our Artist Pages on:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music (streaming)
  • Apple Music App or iTunes (depending on your platform/OS)
  • Pandora
  • YouTube Music

 

We enjoyed the challenge of recording these songs. If you like what you've heard, and would like to hear more, the best ways to encourage us would be to share our music with your family and friends, request our songs on streaming platforms, or purchase downloads from some of the sites above.  And of course join our mailing list to hear about new releases!

Thanks for any support!  

More About the Songs

There's Frost on the Moon

Music by Fred E. Ahlert, Lyrics Joe Young, 1936, first performed by Art Shaw and his orchestra.

A favorite song of ours, introduced to us by a friend. Thanks, Debbie!  

And yes, the lyrics really do say 'I don't need my raccoon'.  (Presumably a reference to a raccoon coat, fortunately from a bygone era).

 

So Far from Home

"So Far From Home" is based on a traditional Austrian tune, the Christmas song/lullaby commonly known in English as "Still, Still, Still".  These new lyrics by Laura address the plight and struggles of all those displaced by the horrors of war, as well as floods, fires, earthquakes, and other disasters.  Kind of a lullaby for all those who feel so far from home.

 

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

In 1864, during the American Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem “Christmas Bells”, which lamented the contrast of songs of peace on earth in the midst of a brutal war. Several of the stanzas were then set to music by J. Baptiste Calkin circa 1872, resulting in this traditional Christmas hymn.  The lyrics have been slightly updated and adapted by Laura to reflect these fraught times, still lamenting the prominence of hate in the world while holding on to hope for peace on earth, goodwill to all.